7 Strategies to Help Executives Build Stronger Team Relationships
Building stronger relationships in the workplace is a critical skill for any leader aiming for success. In this Q&A, insights from an Executive Coach and a Founder shed light on effective strategies to connect with team members and peers. The first key takeaway discusses showing genuine care for team members, setting the stage for stronger bonds. In total, seven valuable insights are shared, with the final advice emphasizing the development of emotional intelligence for better relationships.
- Show Genuine Care for Team Members
- Encourage Regular Empathy Sessions
- Focus on Curiosity and Communication
- Foster Genuine Connections Through Vulnerability
- Build Followership Through Clear Communication
- Foster Authentic Connections at All Levels
- Develop Emotional Intelligence for Better Relationships
Show Genuine Care for Team Members
Leadership is fundamentally about relationships, and one of the most effective ways to build them is by showing genuine care for the people you work with—the human behind the role. Strong connections begin with curiosity. This involves taking the time to understand not only a person's strengths and interests but also their unique challenges and stressors. When leaders actively listen, reflect on what they hear, and show empathy, it creates a sense of belonging and mutual respect that people value deeply.
Relationship-building doesn't have to be time-intensive, but it does require a willingness to step away from task lists and objectives to engage with others meaningfully. Moments of real connection—asking about someone's weekend, acknowledging their hard work, or offering support during tough times—are powerful. Small, consistent actions build trust and loyalty over time.
Ultimately, these connections foster a positive team culture, where everyone feels valued and supported. So, consider this: What kind of leader do you want to be? And how do you want your team to think of you and relate to you? Building meaningful relationships is an investment not only in your team's success but in your own growth as a leader.
Encourage Regular Empathy Sessions
Building Bonds Through Empathy Sessions to Strengthen Team Connections
As the founder of a legal-process outsourcing company, I've found that one of the most effective ways to help executives build stronger relationships with their team is by encouraging regular "empathy sessions."
This strategy involves setting aside time for informal, open-ended discussions where executives and team members can share experiences and challenges outside of the usual work-focused conversations. I first introduced this approach after noticing that even highly capable leaders often lacked insight into the day-to-day challenges faced by their teams.
By creating a space where executives and team members can connect on a personal level, I saw a shift: Leaders became more attuned to their teams' needs, and employees felt valued and understood.
This not only fostered trust but also boosted morale, resulting in a more collaborative and resilient work environment. Sometimes, just taking a small pause to connect can create a big impact.
Focus on Curiosity and Communication
Good relationships are built on authenticity, trust, and consistency. When working with clients, we attempt to identify what is missing in the relationships and then come up with actions that might help build trust, authenticity, and consistency.
The most effective strategy my clients use to build stronger relationships with their team and peers is when my clients focus on being curious and improve the quality, not quantity, of their communications. My clients do this with practices like asking questions you don’t know the answer to, asking people to help them understand, and asking their team and peers what they need to be supported. When my clients start asking questions, they then have to take action based on the information they receive, not the information they assume they’ll hear. Through this curiosity-responsive action strategy, my clients build strong and effective teams.
Foster Genuine Connections Through Vulnerability
Executives can foster genuine connections with their teams and peers by focusing on open communication, empathy, and trust-building. Here's how:
Be vulnerable: Share your own experiences and challenges authentically. This encourages reciprocity and builds trust.
Listen actively: Pay close attention, ask clarifying questions, and reflect back what you hear to demonstrate genuine interest.
Communicate openly: Schedule regular check-ins, provide constructive feedback, and keep everyone informed.
Build trust: Recognize contributions, empower your team, and treat everyone with respect.
Invest time: Organize social events, offer mentorship, and show genuine interest in people's lives outside of work.
Build Followership Through Clear Communication
People are often promoted to leadership roles due to their individual competency. However, their success as a leader depends on how effective they are at mobilizing people around them to reach the organization's goals. Because of this, it's critical for leaders to intentionally focus on building followership on their teams by clearly communicating company and team objectives in a way that team members understand their part in achieving those goals and to have regular one-on-one meetings with direct reports to check for understanding and progress. Likewise, having productive relationships with key stakeholders in the organization is also important in achieving goals, so I recommend that my clients make a list of all the colleagues who can impact their success and make a plan to build relationships with them. It could be a quarterly coffee or lunch or a weekly touch-base meeting depending on how closely your goals are aligned. Bottom line, I stress to my clients that being intentional about building relationships with people is the key to success as an effective leader.
Foster Authentic Connections at All Levels
One of the most effective strategies I use with executives to build stronger team relationships is encouraging them to foster authentic connections at all levels, not just with peers. Executives who prioritize genuine, deep listening—taking the time to truly understand the aspirations, concerns, and strengths of each team member—set a powerful example for an open, collaborative culture. This isn't about just lending an ear but actively engaging in dialogue that values diverse perspectives and collaborative decision-making. When leaders extend their focus beyond traditional hierarchies to create spaces where everyone feels valued and heard, they foster trust, respect, and mutual growth across their team. This approach doesn't just strengthen individual relationships; it enriches the entire team dynamic, building a culture where everyone feels motivated to contribute their best.
Develop Emotional Intelligence for Better Relationships
It starts with awareness of yourself as a leader and a strong foundation to accommodate emotional intelligence. Knowing yourself, your values, and principles for life allows for clarity of mind and behaviors that translate to better relationships with team members. The leader models this and creates an environment of trust and relative psychological safety that allows for individual growth with team members that connect to the bigger goals of the company.
Active listening also helps strengthen relationships and outcomes.
